Resiliently mounted reclining chair



1950 A. E. JOHNSON RESILIENTLY momma RECLINING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1945 1950 A. E. JOHNSON RESILIENTLY MOUNTED RECLINING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3; 1945 I 14/5 Fi-r TQRA/E is.

Patented Nov. 28, 1959 2,532,025 RESILIENTLY MOUNTED RECLINING CHAIR Arthur E. Johnson, St. Louis, Mo., assignor of forty cne-hundredths to Dorothy K. S. Johnson, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 3, 1945, Serial No. 575,986

10 Claims. 1

" This invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs. The objects of my improvements are to provide asiniple and economical, strong and durable, li 'ht weight chair of the above type in which the seat and back are freely movable to adapt themselves to the shape and movements of the occupant without manual adjusting and locking devices; to provide for resiliently supporting the seat and back in all positions thereof; to provide for initially varying the resiliency of the supporting means and for adjusting the relative angular positions of the seat and back to suit the comfort of the user; to provide for joint forward and backward oscillatory movement of the seat and back in all positions thereof; to provide for frictionally holding the seat and back in the positions assumedthereby in response to the movements of the occupant; and to obtain other advantages hereinafter appearing. The invention consists in the reclining chair and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are side elevational views of a reclining chair embodying my invention, said chair being shown in different positions of adjustments in the several views,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the chair in the position shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view in the position shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. '7 a view similar to'Fig. 2 showing the change in the shape of the side frames under the weight of a relatively heavyoecupant or under a different weight displacement of the body,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 8-8 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through the forward seat supporting portion of the chair.

My reciining chair construction comprises a substantially rectangular horizontal base frame A and two spaced parallel forwardly tiltable, vertically yieldable resilient upright side frames 13. The base frame A preferably comprises two spaced parallel side bars l connected near their front and rear ends by cross bars 2. The upright side frames B are substantially quadrilateral; and each of said frames comprises a strip of resilient material, whichis bent to form the bottom 3 and front side t of said frame and a curved or rounded lower front corner portion 5 thereof that has a relatively large radius of ourvature and integrally connects said bottom and 2 front Side of said frame. The bottom 3 of each side frame B is disposed horizontally and the front side 3 thereof tilts or inclines forwardly from the curved lower front corner portion 5 of said frame. Thebottom element 3 of each side fram'eB seats on and extends longitudinally of one of the side bars 5 of the base frame A and is rigidly secured fiatwise to said side rail by means of bolts 8, thus leaving the forwardly tilted front side of the side frame free to swing forward and backward about the curved lower front corner portion 5 of said side frame as a hinge. The bolts 6 extend through vertical holes 1 in the side bar 8; and a sufiicient number of such holes are spaced apart longitudinally of said side bar so as to permit the side frame to be shifted forward or backward thereon.

The rear side of each side frame B comprises a relatively rigid bar 8, which is pivotally secured at its lower end to the bottom 3 of said frame for forward and backward swinging movement thereon. The pivotal connection between the rear side member 8 of the frame and the bottom portion 3 thereof comprises a strap hinge 9 which is permanently secured to the rear side member and is secured to the bottom portion by means of bolts it that are engageable with the vertical bolt holes 7 in the bottom portion, whereby the lower end of said rear side member may be shifted forward or backward on said bottom portion. The rear side member 8 of each side frame, like the front side portion i thereof, is also forwardly inclined or pitched from the vertical, preferably at a slightly greater angle of inclination than said front side portion of said frame. The forwardly inclined rear side membersB of the two frames B are rigidly connected together for joint swinging movement by means of a cross bar I i.

The top member [2 of each side frame B comprises an arched or upwardly bowed plate spring which is pivotally connected at its forward end to the upper end of the forwardly tilted front side portion 4 of said frame, the pivotal connection comprising a strap hinge I3 that is permanently connected to the adjacent ends of said top member and said front side portion. The top member l2 of. the side frame is pivotally connected adjacent to its rear end to the upper end of the forwardly inclined rear side member 8 of said frame, preferably by means of a strap hinge M, which is permanently connected to said rear side member and is removably connected by means of bolts Hi to said top memher. The bolts 15 are adapted to be inserted in the desired bolt holes 16 of a series that are spaced apart longitudinally of the top frame member I2, whereby the pivotal connection between the rear side member 3 and said top member may be shifted longitudinally of the latter to vary the angle of inclination of said rear side member and the resiliency of said top member.

Supported on each side frame B is, a Substantially rigid L-shaped seat and back supporting member C comprising a straight rearwardly extending portion H, which seats on and is riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the bowed top member I2 of said frame intermediate between the ends of said member, and a depending front end portion l8 that overhangs and is spaced forwardly of the forwardly tilted front side portion 4 of said frame. The rearwardly extending portion ll of said L-shaped member is spaced above the front and rear portions of the bowed top member l2 of the side frame; and a suitable arm rest l'ia seats on and is permanently secured flatwise to the front portion of said rearwardly @Xtending portion of said L-shaped member. The depending front end portion [8 of the L-shaped support C of each side frame B terminates at its lower end in a forwardly extending lug l9; and the lugs of the L-shaped supports of the two side frames are connected by a horizontal cross rod 20, which has a roller 2| journaled there n.

The above chair also includes an upholstered seat D and an upholstered back E, both located between the two side frames B and sustained by the L-shaped member supported on the tops thereof. The seat, D has metal wear plates 2 2 that are rigidly secured to the bottom thereof and extend substantially from front to, back thereof. The plates 22 are supported on the cross roller 2! and terminate at their front ends downwardly bent portions 23 :which have rubber bumpers 24 secured to the rear faces thereof in position to abut against the seat supporting roller 2! and thus limit the rearward movement of the seat thereon.

The roller supported bottom plates 22 of the seat D project rearwardly thereof where they are connected by a cross bar 25 whose ends are bent, upwardly at right angles to provide upstanding arms 26 rigid with said seat at the rear end thereof. The upstanding arms 25 of the. seat 0 have their upper ends connected. by horizontal pivots 27 to the free lower ends of bars 2 8 that are rigidly secured to opposite sides of the back E and project from the lower end thereof, The arms 26 have several holes 27av therein for the pivots 21 so that the angular relation:- ship of the seat and back may be varied.

The seat D isalso connected at its. rear end t tne h p i or n memb rsC by m ans o e e ic e cur d by ho izon a pivots 30 to lugs 31 depending from the rear-v wa l extending o s o a su po members C adjacent to the rear ends thereof. The lo r ms of he, ve s 2 ar c nected at, their lower end. by horizontal pivots 3 2; to the. lower ends of the upstanding arms 2,6 cars sd b seat D at h r a endv er qf The erms. r pr i ed w th roups of ho es; a and .2 for i ot 3.11 an re pec ively. so, that the angular relationship. of. said. levers and se D a up r may e v ri d? The upper arms of the levers. 29. arerigidly c nnected ether y; means; of; a or ntal cross bar 33 which is located rearwardly of the back E between the upper and lower ends thereof and serves to slidably support said back intermediate between the upper and lower ends thereof. As shown in the drawings, the back E has wear plates 34 rigidly secured to the rear face thereof that extend substantially from top to bottom thereof and slidably engage the horizontal lever connecting bar.

The hereinbefore described reclining chair has numerous important advantages. It is strong and durable, light in weight and of simple, economical construction. The interconnected seat D and back E are sustained by the upright side frames B for movement relative thereto and to each other to adapt themselves to the movements of the occupant, and are held in the positions assumed by the operator by the friction between the cross bar 33 and the wear strips on the rear face of said back. During such movements, the seat D is rockable and slidable on the supporting roller 2! therefor, while the back E is tiltable on the cross bar 33 and slidable [forward and backward thereon. The rearward sliding movement of the seat is limited by the bumpers 24 at the depending front end portions 23 of the wear plates 22 on the bottom of said seat. The resilient side frames B are adapted to deflect downwardly and tilt forwardly under the weight of the occupant and have the power of recovery when relieved of such weight; and they also are adapted to sway or rock back and forth under the influence of the occupant. In the seating position of the chair, the weight of the occupantis dis tributed so as to hold the back in slightly rearwardly inclined position and the seat in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position. When the occupant leans backward in the chair to as sume a reclining or recumbent position, the movement of the body causes the seat to slide forwardly on its supporting roller 2| and the back to slide downwardly on the cross bar 33; and when the body reaches a substantially supine position, the supporting surfaces of the seat and back are substantially coplanar and the roller and cross bar are in position to afford proper support for said back and seat, respectively. To suit the shape, weight and size of the occupant, the hinge connections at the upper and lower ends of the rear sides 8 of the frames may be shifted forwardly or backwardly relative to the top member I2 and the location of the pivots 2'1, 30 and 32 may be varied. As apparent from Fig. 4, the arrangement of parts also permits the chair to be placed with its back close to a wall without interfering with thefull range of movement of the back.

Obviously, the hereinbefore described reclining chair construction admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. A chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames anda seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rearframe members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper cornersv of each frame being located for-v wardly of the movable connections at the lower corners thereof and. the movable, connection, at one of thelower corners, of each. frame being re,

silietit, whereby said frames are. distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of an occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly arched spring plates forming the top members of said frames, relatively rigid members seated on and rigidly secured to said spring plates intermediate the ends thereof, means for suspending said seat from the forward portions of said rigid members, and means for suspending said back from the rear end of said rigid members.

2. A chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rear frame members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper corners of each frame being located forwardly of the movable connections at the lower corners thereof and the movable connection at one of the lower corners of each frame being resilient, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of an occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly arched spring plates forming the top members of said frames, relatively rigid arm rest members seated on and rigidly secured to said spring plates intermediate the ends thereof, means for movably supporting said seat from the forward end portions of said arm rest members, means for movably supporting said back from the rear end portions of said arm rest members, and connections between said seat and back providing for joint forward and backward movement thereof.

3. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rear frame members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper corners of each frame being located forwardly of the movable connections at the lower corners thereof and the movable connection at one of the lower corners of eachframe being resilient, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of the occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such Weight, means for suspending said seat from the top frame members only of said frames for vertical pivotal and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto and for suspending said back from said seat suspending means'for vertical tilting and forward and backward sliding movement relative to said frames and seat.

4. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rear frame members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper corners of each frame being located forwardly of the movable connections at the lower corners thereof and the movable connection at one of the lower corners of each frame being resilient, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of the occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of 8 such weight, arm rest members seated on and rigidly secured to the tops of said frames, means for suspending said seat from the forward portions of said arm rest members for vertical piv-- otal and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto and means for suspending said back from the rear portions of said arm rest members for vertical tilting and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto.

5. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained entirely by the top frame members of said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rear frame members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper corners of each frame being located forwardly of the movable connections at the lower corners thereof and the movable connection at one of the lower corners of each frame being resilient, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of the occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly bowed spring plates forming the top members of said frames, arm rest members seated on and rigidly secured to said spring plates intermediate between the ends thereof, means for suspending said seat from the forward and rearward portions of said arm rest members for vertical pivotal and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto, and means for suspending said back from the rear portions of said arm rest members for vertical tilting and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto.

6. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames including top and bottom frame members and front and rear frame members connected to said top frame members forwardly of their points of connection with said bottom frame mem'oers, and a seat and a back located between and sustained entirely by the top frame members of said side frames, said frames having resiiient portions, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of the occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly bowed spring plates forming the top members of said frames, arm rest members seated on and rigidly secured to said spring plates intermediate the ends thereof, means for suspending said seat from the forward portions of said arm rest members for 7 vertical pivotal and forward and backward slidingmovement relative thereto, means for suspending said back from the rear portions of said arm rest members for vertical tilting and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto, a horizontal pivotal connection between said seat and back, and a horizontal pivotal connection between said seat and said'back suspending means.

7. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said quadrilateral side frames including top, bottom, front and rear frame members movably connected at the four corners of said frame, the movable connections at the upper corners of each frame being located forwardly of the movable connections at thelower corners thereof and the movable connection at one of the lower corners of each frame being resilient, whereby the frames are distorts..- ble forwardly and downwardly under the weight of the occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly arched spring plates forming the top members of said frames, supporting members seated on and rigidly secured to said arched spring plates intermediate the ends thereof and having portions depending from their front ends forwardly of said frames, a supporting roller for said seat disposed crosswise of said chair and supported by said depending portions of said supporting members, said seat having upwardly extending arms rigid therewith at the rear end thereof, bars rigid with the lower end portion of said back and pivotally connected to the upper end portions of said arms, and levers pivotally supported on the rear end portions of said supporting members with their lower ends pivotally connected to said arms, said levers being connected by a cross member which supports said back for vertical tilting and forward and rearward sliding movement thereon.

8. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, said frames comprising top, bottom and front and rear side portions that incline forwardly and upwardly from said bottom portions to said top portions and are movably connected at the four corners of said frames, one of said corner connections comprising a resilient portion integrally connecting adjacent frame portions, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of an occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly arched spring plates forming the top portions of said frames, and means for suspending said seat and back from said spring plates for vertical tilting and forward and backward sliding movement relative thereto.

9. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, said frames comprising top, bottom and forwardly tilted front and rear side portions movably connected at the four corners of said frames, one of said corner connections comprising a resilient portion integrally connecting adjacent frame portions, whereby said frames are distortable forwardly and downwardly under the weight of an occupant of said chair and will recover their normal shape when relieved of such weight, upwardly arched spring plates forming the top portions of said frames, supporting members seated on and rigidly secured to said arched spring plates intermediate the ends thereof and having depending front end portions located forwardly of said frames, a supporting roller for said seat disposed crosswise of said chair and supported by said depending portions of said members, said seat having upwardly extending arms rigid therewith at the rear end thereof, bars rigid with the lower end portions of said back and pivotally connected to the upper end portions of said arms, and levers pivotally supported on the rear end portions of said members with their lower ends pivotally connected to said arms, said levers being connected by a cross member which serves to support said back for vertical tilting and forward and rearward sliding movement.

10. A reclining chair comprising substantially quadrilateral upright side frames and a seat and a back located between and sustained by said side frames, each of said side frames comprising a single strip of metal bent to form a horizontal bottom and a forwardly tilted resilient self-sustaining front side portion of said frame, a forwardly tilted rigid member forming the rear side portion of said frame, an upwardly arched spring plate forming the top portion of said frame, and horizontal pivots connecting said spring plate to said front and rear side portions and said rear side portion to said bottom portion, the lower end of the rear side portion being adjustable lengthwise of said bottom portion and the upper portion of said rear side portion being adjustable longitudinally of said upper portion.

ARTHUR E. JOHNSON.

CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 296,778 Plummer Apr. 15, 1884 944,065 Wilmot Dec. 21, 1909 1,149,421 Wilmot Aug. 10, 1915 1,714,936 Warner May 28, 1929 1,825,581 Comerford Sept. 29, 1931 1,942,301 McGowan Jan. 2, 1934 1,988,788 Goodman Jan. 22, 1935 2,006,422 Trainer July 2, 1935 2,080,607 Galante May 18, 1937 2,130,022 Oermann Sept. 13, 1938 2,135,833 Oermann Nov. 8, 1938 2,263,450 Anderson Nov. 18, 1941 2,264,143 Scott et a1 Nov. 25, 1941 2,273,980 Moody Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 772,751 France Aug. 20, 193 4 

